Final answer:
Healthcare providers' resistance is a major barrier in the widespread adoption of telemedicine, which is exacerbated by issues like healthcare inequality and historical mistrust in the system. To overcome this, the benefits of telemedicine must be clearly communicated, and efforts should be made to build trust and provide necessary training to healthcare practitioners.
Step-by-step explanation:
A major barrier that must be overcome for telemedicine to be more widely practiced is healthcare providers' resistance to adopting telemedicine practices. This resistance can stem from various factors, including challenges in access to medical education, difficulty in accessing patients, and the need for healthcare systems to adapt to new technology amidst a mass production and efficiency model. In the United States, the healthcare system has experienced significant consolidation and growth in efficiency measures, with telemedicine being identified as a key innovation for improving U.S. healthcare. However, the transition to telemedicine requires an investment in new technologies and training, as well as a significant cultural shift among medical professionals accustomed to traditional face-to-face interactions.
In addition, healthcare inequality and the historical context of medical exploitation contribute to distrust in the healthcare system, making the adoption of telemedicine and other innovative practices more complex. As part of improving the healthcare system and increasing access, it is essential to address and overcome healthcare providers' resistance by demonstrating the benefits of telemedicine in terms of improving quality and reducing costs, while also ensuring privacy, efficacy, and building trust within communities.